TSO

 As I have mentioned previously, this holiday season is one of modifications and changes to traditions. Robby and I have seen The Nutcracker performed at George Mason University for the past decade and we have thoroughly enjoyed the shows. After last year's performance, which honestly was lackluster since the Russian ballerinas have been banned entrance, we decided to switch things up with a new experience. This year, instead of going to see The Nutcracker, we are going to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas performance tonight.

Today I will pick up Robby from school and head to Pennsylvania. Because the concert is in Hershey I decided to combine the it with a weekend visit with my Mom. Tonight while Robby and I are rocking out to TSO, Timmy will be gorging on popcorn while watching Grinch with my Mom. I have a feeling that both of my boys will be living their best lives tonight.

Have a great weekend!  I'll post photos from the show this weekend.

Holiday Changes

 Ready or not, winter has arrived. The temperatures plummeted and brought the remaining leaves to the ground. The fireplace has been going full blast for several days which has created a cozy mood in the house. It is easier to feel festive when the fireplace is crackling and popping. 

We have less than two weeks until Christmas and we are not ready. I look around the house and I feel overwhelmed by the clutter (the boxes of books Robby was gifted from his teacher) and underwhelmed by my decorating efforts. This year my decorations are minimal. I didn't do anything outside and inside we only have the Christmas tree and a few treasured items on display. Everything else I am keeping in storage until we move. 

I feel guilty for not going overboard for the holiday this year. Between work, school and selling FlexyFriends, I just haven't had the time or the motivation to invest in developing the holiday spirit. Instead of trying to do everything, this year I'm only going to focus on what we truly enjoy and value. 

Although we haven't done a lot of decorating I have been trying to increase my baking output. Given the choice, everybody in my family would prefer a cookie over another carefully placed trinket. It may not look a lot like Christmas, but it is certainly smelling like it!

Mom Fail

My aspirations of having an orderly and organized week were shot out of the water yesterday morning. Friend, who had been scratching furiously throughout the night, needed to go to the vet because I suspected he had another ear infection. As I made the call for the appointment I ran through my schedule for the day trying to figure out what could be bumped and how to make everything fit. I eagerly accepted the appointment offered, immediately deciding that Robby could go to school in an Uber.

I went about my morning until it was appointment time. Before leaving the house I reminded Robby to keep him phone next to him because I would be sending the Uber to pick him up. Timed precisely for an 11 AM school drop-off I confidently ordered the Uber while waiting for the vet to see Friend. After ordering the Uber I remember feeling like an accomplished schedule juggler. 

As suspected, Friend has an ear infection. He was treated and we came home with enough time for me to send a few emails before I needed to head out to pick up Robby from school. Fast forward 20 minutes and I was in the car rocking out to Christmas songs and feeling extremely organized. 

It was only 11:45 and I was pulling into the school parking lot when I suddenly remembered that his class runs from 12-1, not from 11-12. Not only was I an hour early, but I paid an Uber to drive Robby to school so that he could sit and wait for over an hour for his class. 

Talk about a Mom Fail!

Rest Day

 Saturday morning Robby and I headed back to the mall with a trunk full of FlexyFriends. We have done this a few times now and are becoming faster at setting up the little pop-up store. The mall wasn't as busy as we anticipated, especially considering it is only three weeks before Christmas, but business was brisk and everybody was nice. We sold out in the early evening which allowed us to pack up and take Sunday off.

Sunday was my first day off in a month. I had planned on driving to my Mom's house for the night but the constant rain coupled with the wind and my own fatigue was enough to keep me home. Instead of visiting I spent the day taking a long nap on the couch, baking Christmas cookies with the boys and finishing decorating the tree and the house. It was a fantastic day and exactly what I needed to regain both my strength and my holiday spirit!

Instead of going to my Mom's yesterday we decided that the boys and I would visit this coming weekend. It feels like the stars aligned because I was able to secure tickets to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra with Robby. We have been going to see the Nutcracker together for nearly a decade but we decided it would be fun to switch it up this year. He requested TSO and I was thrilled when I realized that they are playing near my Mom next Friday! 

Talk about serendipity.

Hanukah

 HAPPY HANUKAH!

We are not a religious family but we do try to maintain non-secular and secular family traditions. Each year I feel connected with my Dad and his ancestors when we light the family menorah. I feel like it is my small way of saying hello and we still remember to everybody from my Dad's side of the family who has died. I understand that is not the meaning of Hanukah, but I think the sense of connection is universal. 

After we lit the menorah the boys helped me decorate our Christmas tree before making a list of cookies that need to be baked in the coming weeks. They are certainly going to be keeping me busy for the next few weeks! It turns out that both boys prefer different cookies and that their culinary preferences rarely overlap. 

Baking is going to have to wait because this weekend we are returning to the Francis Scott Key Mall to sell FlexyFriends. Our stock is low after the Craft Fair sell-out but we are printing furiously to try to fill the table. If you are in the area, stop by and say hello! 

 

No More Lincoln Beard

 I agreed to Robby's "no shave November" initiative with the caveat that he get a proper haircut and shave at the beginning of December. I have never been a fan of facial hair but I try to allow the boys dominion over their own appearances. With very few exceptions I will allow them to dress and groom to their preferences. Although Robby likes the scraggly look he had finally reached the place where it was unruly and difficult for him to manage. I took advantage of the lack of family activities and Robby's willingness to shave to take the boys to the barber for their holiday haircuts. 

Timmy and Robby hopped onto the barber chairs at the same time. By the time Timmy was done Robby's hair was still being sectioned by the barber. During the time that Robby was getting his hair cut and his face shaved the other barber managed to complete the haircuts and complete the transactions for five separate customers. Needless to say, my little Koopa was more akin to a woolly mammoth when he walked into the barbershop.

It took the barber 2 hours to buzz, cut, snip and shave the hair away. By the time his makeover was finished Robby looked like a completely different person. I feel like I have my little boy back! (At least until he starts to grow out his beard again.)

Knock Out Chicken

Robby has never been a rough and tumble kid. As a young child he abandoned riding his bicycle after a fall because "if I was meant to ride I would have been born with wheels instead of feet." It took five years to convince him to remount a bike because his desire to remain unscathed was so strong. As a result of his cautious approach to life he has been spared most childhood injuries.

My cautious little Koopa almost made it out of his childhood without sustaining a black eye. Unfortunately yesterday his unscathed streak came to an end in the most unfortunate (and slightly comical) incident. While Robby was in class I decided to surprise him with lunch from Chick Fil A.  He saw the bag of food on the car seat as he approached and crouched down to see what was inside. Simultaneously he swung the door open in the anticipated triumph of conquering the waffle fry. He swung the door directly into the side of his face. 

Watching it play out I immediately knew that he was hurt. It turns out that he gave himself a black eye and a gnarly gash on his cheek. He knocked himself out for some chicken and fries.